Dr. Sowell is one of the very few that I can listen to without first ingesting a grain of salt...or two. Thank you for your integrity, sir. America seems to be running a little short in that department. For now.
This is not socialism. This is normal human behavior. Multiculturalism never works, even if they're the same color or race. There will always be groups. The only winners are the majority who take over. That's it. Either you or them. Understand this.
This sounds very much like National Socialism, doing what it and generic Socialism always does. Destroys society, impoverishes their people, and institutionalizes injustice.
Something both parties are now regretting. The Chinese have learned the same lesson we and the Russians learned in the 60s and 70s: pouring tons of cash into "allies" never works out well. The money is generally stolen by the local elite, little benefit accrues to the "donor" nation.
Still repeating the debunked lie again and again I see. The only reason Sri Lanka rent out the port to the Chinese is so they can repay western debt in the first place.
You are only making a strong case for the British Empire. Making the language spoken by more than75% of the people in Sri Lanka , the national language wasn't a crime. If SWRDB didn't do it, someone else would have done it. SWRDB passed the Tamil language special provisions act at the same time. In Germany it's German, In France it's French, In Malaysia, it's Malay. So why not Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. I was educated in a private school (Trinity) and a government school (Ananda) and something I experienced was that many clever and intelligent students wouldn't have had the opportunity to rise up in their education if they didn't have the opportunity to study in the mother tongues (Sinhalese or Tamil). It was because, they came from villages where they did not have the opportunity to learn English from the time of their parents or grand parents. Only big cities like Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna had schools which had English medium. Sri Lanka produced many scientists, doctors , engineers from rural villages after SWRDB provided and opportunity for the children from villages to have their education in their mother tongue as when they started secondary or tertiary education, they could pick up the English language quickly and could gain knowledge using English text books as well. Otherwise they would have failed at the early stages itself. The book village in the jungle explains how those villagers who did not have knowledge of English went to jail during colonial times even though they were innocent.
Surely the solution would have been to extend the English medium to rural Sri Lanka? My parents and grand parents from Colombo from the 60s and earlier had grammatically perfect English yet did not compromise their Singhalese language and culture and were strong Buddhists. Sri Lanka has been an utter failure over the last 50 years, especially the last 20 years.
@@creativesource3514 It's natural for people and communities to respond to oppression by seeking ways to protect their identity, culture, and autonomy. In the context of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala-Buddhist majority has historically taken steps to preserve its cultural and religious heritage, especially after centuries of colonial rule. However, these efforts can sometimes be perceived differently by others, depending on the context and the policies or actions taken. Regarding the rejection of English, it's important to note that language often plays a complex role in post-colonial societies. While some may reject English as a symbol of colonial oppression, others might embrace it as a global lingua franca that opens doors to education, trade, and international relations. In Sri Lanka, English continues to be valued for its practical benefits while Sinhala and Tamil remain central to cultural identity. It’s also true that every country has its issues, and Sri Lanka is no exception. Like many nations, it grapples with challenges related to governance, ethnic relations, and socio-economic disparities. Critiques or discussions about these challenges, including videos or other media, can be interpreted in various ways. Some might see them as attacks, while others might view them as opportunities for reflection and dialogue. It’s crucial to approach such discussions with an open mind and sensitivity to context, ensuring that critiques are constructive and not divisive. Highlighting issues in a balanced manner can contribute to understanding and positive change rather than exacerbating tensions.
In 1976 I was attending high school in Kuwait. Our bus driver was a Sri Lankan gentleman. He explained to me (I was the only one interested) that he still thought of it as Ceylon. He was sending his wages home like thousands of other expatriates. All of this story that Dr. Sowell relates takes place during my early 20's and I'm ashamed that this is the first I have heard of it.
You are absolutely right, Thomas. The 1956 Act is what led to our self-destruction. Thank you, Thomas, for sharing this. I am Sinhalese, but I never emphasize my ethnicity; I always refer to my nationality/ethnicity as Sri Lankan. My dream is for English to become the official language because I studied in Sinhala for more than 13 years in school, but when I pursued my BSc at a government university, everything was in English. This experience made me resent Sinhala and motivated me to work hard to learn English. I have decided that I will not teach my children in the Sinhala medium; instead, I want them to study in English. If English were to become the official language of Sri Lanka, I would feel as though I were in heaven. I deeply regret the suffering endured by our Tamil brothers and sisters-they have suffered far more than us. I am confident that a new government will address the remaining issues step by step.
As becoming obvious with the so called American Empire of this day in process of disintegration after similar exploitation through major trade conflicts to gain access & chokehold control over the earth’s current natural resources predominantly to it’s own use to create a showpiece of an orderly law abiding democratic nation in noble quest,so was its immediate predecessor the huge colonial inspired British Empire, desire to leave the international political scene with dignity after its economic collapse from the two world wars of the last millennium & having to grant independence to large territory varied peoples they brought together or divided in loyalty or disapproval as the given moment suited the imperialist power of the time. No wonder at all therefore, socialism & communism appealed to freedom fighters of impoverished nations united in common purpose for the time being . America is now finding out the consequences of destabilizing of democracies & supporting military & electoral autocrats directed primarily against Russia of Soviet era right upto the latter’s Putin led altered ideology, besides wanting to add China among its enemy lists. Has found the right man it appears , to disenchant the rest of the vast world away from even those few friends among large nation states by trade embargo threats posturing this nation is too weak in carrying out .
The barry has always said he wanted to destroy his mother's nation. He has ever written it in some of his papers. I do not understand people. He said it and he wrote it. You barry supporters still refuse to believe.
@@deathlarsen7502which is a shame it's causing normal law abiding people people to act like idiots. Let's say there was systamatic violence they can't reason it out ? You can't show overwhelming evidence why destroy shops and other places why harm police offers they are trying to help you from getting fucked over. Again as an Bengali man I don't understand it as long I have a job as long as I can find work why would ever dream of harming cops ?
Singapore is a richest country because they study in English and has other languages as official. English spoke all over the world not Sinhalese or Tamil.
Nobody talks about the injustice happend to the majority Sinhalese up to 1956 in the spehers of access to education, employement and language barrier under the colonial rule. They were third class citizens in their own country. What simply happend in 1956 was the majority of country got their rightful place in the society. There is nothing wrong in that.
Exactly right. SWRD blazed a new trail in Sri lankan politics to liberate the down trodden and unsophisticated masses in Sri Lanka. Yet his policies were not totally flawless. His language policy created a fissure in the country and affected badly the education system.
@@pmwijeratne1896 True, but it was the quickest way to liberate the masses. Policies may not be perfect but things were not perfect under the colonial rule either.
Yeah that's what i'm saying. brits ef up the whole demographics in few years that Sri Lanka had over two millennia by importing millions of workers from other countries. And now look at irony that they're complaining and rioting over migrants in their country
Ideologues always subvert every aspect of a society to their cause whenever they come to power. The actual functions of everything become at most secondary as everything is sacrificed for their ideals. The same mistakes have been made worldwide repeatedly across the centuries and led by groups which have little in common side from being ideologues. And yet even with the abundance of information so easily accessible as offered on the Internet it is still absurdly common today.
The ruling elite were the Christian Anglo-Lankans who were autocratic. How did the poor Tamils become the target? Socialists and Fundamentalists often ally to come to power, and once in power they actively work to undermine the other. In Sri Lanka Bandarnaike the Socialist came to power riding the fundamentalist bull, whereas in Iran the Ayatollah a Fundamentalist got extensive support from the Socialists in ousting the Shah.
@@rao8559 Tamils were in Jaffna and northern SL and around Colombo for historically. But British brought tens of thousands of new Tamil people to work on Tea/Rubber plantations. This is similar to the Immigration crisis that happened near border/sanctuary states in the US or the refugee crisis in Germany.
Lol if don't know history 💩💩💩stfu@@peterfireflylundit was only the Indian tamil who were brought there by the white to work in the plantations who were send back to india in huge numbers after independence did u even watch the video? The sl tamils were always there they are infact older then the so called sinhalese Both the tamils and sinhalese also come from the same family line who used to marry each other for political power and domination of the island before the arrival of Europeans in the island
Nehru and Bandaranaike had a lot a common. Both were Anglophiles and detested their own ethnicities, both were socialists and had no idea how to manage the economy, how to handle crises or what nationalism was. Both destroyed their respective countries.
Bandaranaike was not a real socialist. He was born in the lap of luxury and made himself up to be the saviour of the Sinhala people. He was definitely a nationalist. One can argue that almost all Sri Lankan leaders until the current president have been Right-wing Nationalists.
Who said nehru detested his own ethnicity? He was a nationalist considering he was one of the leaders within the struggle for independence. Economically, socialism was the right policy at the time. The problem only was that Nehru's successors didn't liberalise. And "destroyed" seriously? Like can't you at least give someone credit for having inherited a poor agricultural country and having at least set up a quite stable state? Nehru is probably a major factor behind why India never suffered a military coup or civil war. Compare him to his contempories and while he may not be the best, at least he might come in the top 5 or 10. He handled nationalism quite well infact better than the current government which is hellbent on creating a state where a mandir takes importance over income. Narendra Modi is infact trying to destroy the nation that Nehruso meticulously built.
I love the Sir Lanka people, they are intelligent and good hard working good people, I'm an old white man here in Texas to these are the kind of people who need special attention to legal status, believe me there great people
Sri lankan Tamil here. Immigrated to Canada with my parents as a child after the 1983 riots . What Dr. Sowell says is correct. All his life, my father blamed SWRD Bandaranayaka for ruining the country and fanning flames that were just small embers. My godparents are Sinhalese. Among the middle class we mixed between the ethnic groups. My parents loved SL. We only left because we didn't have a choice. Was on a business trip in Switzerland 10 years ago. Ended up talking with a Swiss young lady on the train. She said Sri Lankans work hard and did not go chasing after and harassing women like other migrants. In Switzerland and in France there were so many Sri Lnkans that came as refugees that they got their own pilgrimage day at a monastery in Switzerland . In France, Charte cathedral, is booked on Pentecost Sunday for the Sri lankans and it it gets so packed that hundreds of people end up standing outside.
@@GraceAbrhamsGa1970 I love you, brother or sister. Welcome back to Sri Lanka! The new government will do its best to ensure that not only the Sinhalese but also the Tamils can live their best lives. I studied in Sinhala, but when I pursued my BSc, I struggled because my education was in Sinhala. Honestly, I dislike the Sinhala medium. I don’t want my children to study in Sinhala because, to me, it feels inadequate. Currently, I’m doing my MSc, but I still regret the time I spent learning in Sinhala. If the 1956 Act hadn’t been passed, English would have been Sri Lanka’s official language, and I would have loved that. My dream is to make English the official language and to ensure that Tamil people, especially, can live happy lives. It would bring joy to those who truly need it.
@@webshealth Im sorry thats so wrong, No one in Sri Lanka had to study BSc in Sinhala, it was always in English.. Making the language spoken by more than 75% of the people in Sri Lanka , the national language wasn't a crime. If SWRDB didn't do it, someone else would have done it. SWRDB passed the tamil language special provisions act at the same time. In Germany it's German, In France it's French, In Malaysia, it's Malay. So why not Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. That racist envious tamil (only) eelam thing tended to destroy lakhs of individuals of both ours.
As so often happens with US commentators, despite being as fair as he can be (and he is very fair), the author still cannot see through the immovable US blind spot to the point of not even mentioning it: 1972 was not just the year that university entrance exams changed, it was also the year that Ceylon decided to change from a constitutional monarchy like Canada, the UK and Australia, and became a new, Sinhalese-dominated republic with a new, symbolically Sinhalese flag, called by the specifically Sinhalese name Sri Lanka. You see, from Independence until 1972, the Crown had served as a symbolic restraint on ethno-nationalistic tendencies, standing for fairness and equal treatment well above the political and racial fray. It had to go, and since republicanisation in 1972 it has been all relentlessly downhill for Sri Lanka. I am not blaming the US for what has happened in Sri Lanka, but the US blind spot regarding George III has led to multiple foolish mistakes favouring ideologically "clean" republics over benign, peaceful, but ideologically suspect (to the US) monarchies: Cambodia in 1970 (too chummy with China), Iran in 1979 (Carter hilariously thought the Shah was too repressive), Afghanistan (the Loya Jirga) in 2002, Eastern Europe after Communism (Albright's "we don't do kings"), and many, many more. The one time that pragmatism won out over the blind spot was one of the greatest post-war successes: Japan.
It's because the war mongers need a reason to collect taxes on the people. Income taxes were unheard of until about ww1 or 2 when the gov needed money. So congress quietly implemented a tax on the people that was only used in wartime. Hence the need for constant nose poking.
I’ve been reflecting on everything Sri Lanka has been through, and I feel it’s time we focus on hope and positivity. Sri Lanka has faced so many challenges, but I truly believe in the strength and resilience of its people. I want to share this prayer with you for Sri Lanka’s success: May Sri Lanka rise above its challenges with strength and wisdom. May its people find unity and peace, working together toward a brighter future. May its leaders be guided by justice and compassion, making decisions that uplift everyone. May the economy stabilize and flourish, bringing opportunities for all. And may Sri Lanka’s beauty, culture, and spirit continue to inspire the world. Let’s hold on to hope and work together in whatever small ways we can to contribute to the success of this beautiful country.
Can kind of relate here in Australia, many of own foods we grow and resources we export cost more to buy here, in large part due to government incompetency and bureaucracy driving up fuel and energy prices.
nop it's not. the point is nation building. singapore,malaysia and hongkong (although not a country) prosper after brittish colonization. so what went wrong with Sri Lanka?
The divisive policies of colonial rulers have caused bloodshed in India/Pakistan, countries in western Africa, Palestine, Kashmir, and other regions after their departure. Some of these conflicts continue to this day. In Sri Lanka, Bandaranayke was doing only damage control. Therefore, if somebody wants to assign blame for these conflicts, it should be directed at the colonial rulers.
@@krishnaats7141 Sure. Will do. But they are too consumed in their catesist drivel that I personally feel they are beyond redemption. Personally I have never subscribed to the Aryan and Dravidian theory. The movement of people and their interaction was more organic. We are all one and the same.
When Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus started the same Sinhala Politics ( rename it Greek Politics) in Cyprus, Turkey invaded and carved a separate state. for Turkish minorities, mostly muslims. But while atrocities on Hindus and Tamils were taking place Nehru did not interfere. It took another 50 years before Tamils started to fight, and that too without India's help. Same with Tibet. Nehru sold Tibet to China , because he believed in Panch Shila. That was the difference between Turkey and India.
What Bandaranaike did in 1956 was simply giving the majority Sinhalese their rightful place in the society after 133 years of opression by the colonial rulers. As a result their was a resurgence of Sinhalese culture and Buddhism in the country at the time and, some fractions of the society lost their preferential treatment they received previously under the colonial rule.
I remember most news focused on Tamil terrorism but completely ignored the government retaliation. As usual the media were one sided in their coverage.
It was state-terrorism which gave birth to so called terrorism of oppressed people. From 1950s to 1970s until the raise of Tamil militancy, It was Sri Lankan state unleashing state terrorism on innocent. Unarmed Tamil civilians. The state terrorism includes discrimination, marginalisation on ethnic basis. Sponsoring pogroms on Unarmed civilians. These acts are not defending. It is called committing genocide. Verdict: Sri Lanka is guilty of Tamil genocide.
This is a one sided lesson. He talks only about post independence Sri Lanka. He does not talk about the opression of majorty Sinhalese during the colonial rule.
Interestingly, while I was at Senior Leadership Course with the army as a 37F this was the scenario, fighting/ supporting an insurgency in Sri Lanka. Oddly enough, the background information was not this specific as to why the tensions were there.
There was the involvement of parties other than India and Sri Lanka that wanted to use Sri Lankan Tamil demand for a separate nation demand to balkanize India
@@rickfresherParadoxically, what you say is truth, and not many people in India know this. And nowadays, in Sri Lanka's side, too many people deny this as well. The core foreign back of Tamil Nationalism in Ceylon was the Dravidian movement and its Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, which saw on these issues in the island as a golden way to achieve its Dravidisthan goal. But its highly corrupt and dynastic mechanism made it sink theses plans halfway, for acting concretely as the regional B-team of the Indian Congress and peculiarly the Gandhis. It's nowadays that Tamil Eelam issue is associated with Tamildesiyam on Indian side. But historically, it was DMK who partly trained, armed and financed the rebellious movements in Northern Sri Lanka.
Never! This man only speaks for the privileged minorities who benefited enotmously under Colonial rule ! Today Sri Lankans are among the most educated, healthy and free people in the emerging countries of the Gobal South !
I still remember the morning the news of former India PM Rajiv Gandhi being assassinated. Everyone was in shock and I don't think any adult that morning laughed or sang or was cheerful. No matter what, he was our nation's PM and to learn that he was blown to bits, it was quite distressing and sad.
He forgets something important. The fact that the British bought in a huge amount of Tamil population which caused resentment. This is also true in many other countries in which tribes and communities that loathed each other were forced into one nation by the colonial powers. Of course nothing justifies the slaughter and discrimination but have a look at the root causes. And the reason why this politician was elected is because he said the things that people in the country wanted to hear. He was a hypocritical populist. And today you can see many hypocritical populists in the west who are winning elections because they can appeal to the basest emotions in the populace.
True. Colonialism caused more conflict in countries because the colonisers brought in cheap Labour and left with unrest among the population as it happened in Malaysia in the sixties with riots among the ethnic Malays and the Chinese imported labour. No such thing happened in Thailand as it was never colonised.
Also Tamils and Sinhalese believe in two different versions of SL history. Tamils believe in a mythical Tamil past based on Dravidian idea. It has become a political ideology in TN. Tamils in SL were influenced by Tamil nationalism in TN.
@ the indigenous people of Sri Lanka are the Veddas the Tamils have a homeland and it is Tamilnadu, there are no 2 homelands for any race unless it’s a country they emigrate to and consider it as their second home. The Sinhalese came from some part of northern India, their language has no Tamil connection.
@@Lizzi31It is a lie. "True" Sinhala are the only people who are native to the land they live and also the only people speaking a natural language in the whole world. Don't count on bogus Sinhala who took the local identity with the help of English. Homeland is a concept propagated by English speaking migrants occupying others' land. Tamil language is an artificial language created around sixth century AD where they copied Sinhala and other local languages en masse. When it comes to concocting history they are as good as English. They are not native to South Asia and can be traced back to Mesopotamia. So called Veddas are migrants from Malayali community in South India who escaped to jungles to save lives from Tamil rulers who grabbed power. These so called Veddas do not have anything to suggest primitive nature found in other tribes living in the wild.
Complex topics often lead to misunderstanding. Presenting ideas with clarity and avoiding condescension can prevent misinterpretations and encourage thoughtful dialogue. The goal is to educate and exchange ideas, not to win arguments.
You make a compelling point that focusing on past grievances can sometimes hinder progress in modern contexts. In the case of Sri Lanka, where diverse communities have endured a complex history, the path forward should emphasize healing, growth, and collective advancement rather than reopening old wounds.
Reminded me of this Burgher quote (they got out/were displaced first) "We Burghers are a middle-class community, a law-abiding people. We hate disruption, and we are out of sympathy with socialism and revolution".
Burghers always got preferential treatment from the colonial rulers before independence. During the colonial rule the social hierarchy was British, Burghers, Tamils, Muslims and last the Sinhalese. What simply happend in 1956 was the majority of the country got their rightful place in the society. It was brutal but there is nothing wrong in that. But I appreciate Burghers because after 1956 they accepted the ground reality and migrated to Australia, UK, New Zealand without making further trouble.
Finally, truth is spoken. I'm a Sri Lankan, a Sinhalese and I can't speak up about this among people because many of them get angry for calling out these 'national heroes'. These people singlehandedly disturbed and mistreated ethnic minorities which led to a huge war. The things these politicians and extremists have done is absurd. A professor even protested by starving himself to death against making the Tamil language the second national language. This racism and chauvinism has been running Sri Lankan politics all these years for so long. But now, things are seemingly getting better. I'm happy about that. People need to learn to accept past mistakes, do the justice and make things better for the future.
Like always, some will learn, some won’t. There are varying degrees of intelligence, always have been. That’s why this cycle goes round and round ad infinitim.
I thought you were going to be talking about Keir Starmer and his socialist government in the UK. He has done a huge amount of damage in just 5 months.
@@istoppedcaring6209 Blair was bad and left the country broke and he opened the door to unregulated immigration. Since then successive Tory governments have made not dealt with the issues that affect the British. But, Starmer has made promises and election pledges to deal with the issues, non of which he has carried out. In fact every policy decision that he has made has failed and made things worse. The economy is dead, unemployment is rising, companies are moving out or closing, the education system is just about to collapse when all the private schools shut and then the tax payer will have to fund the building and running of another 20+ secondary schools to educate all the extra children coming into the state system. The tax policies put in place by someone who claimed to be an economist is actually costing the country more money than what it did before. This Labour "government" needs to go, and go quickly.
While it is essential to recognize historical injustices and learn from them, the focus should be on using those lessons to create a better future. Holding onto resentment can perpetuate division, whereas a forward-looking approach can foster unity and collaboration.
Thank you Dr Sowell for this presentation. I come from New Zealand and have worked with people from Sri Lanka. I have been very aware of the Civil War there. The husband of a co-worker came to New Zealand as a refugee. The unrest explains the large number of Sri Lankan people seeking a new life overseas. My co-worker has four siblings and not one of them lives in Sri Lanka. Only her widowed mother remains. The British Government as per usual created an elite class in an Asian country. Like in India created an Independence framework in a hurried exit. Leaving the Indian Tamils vulnerable, the majority Singlese and minority Tamils jousting for commercial, political and military cohesion. In the end a country is now burdened with debt, a mishmash for infrastructure and a skills and brain drain.
The British Government, as per usual, left them a working form of government, legal system and economy....it was the locals decision to take a wrecking ball to it all. They all *could* have just learned to get along.
@@Yawbus1976 Oh yes, learned to get along. No wonder the Scots and the Welsh love you leave alone the Irish. The English never experience racism when other visit Scotland, right! They are afraid of even visiting the pubs. More comments!
British did more. Before 1911 there was no Tamil ethnicity. British orientalists created a Tamil ethnicity with an imaginary history. Tamil imaginary history was created based on Dravidian hypothesis
@@starrynight43451 Where did you learn history from? The Dravidian ideology has nothing to do with the Tamil cause. In fact, the fake Dravidian peddlers helped the Sinhalese government in wiping out the freedom struggle.
It's not nationalism. It's religious extremism that led to this situation. Even today it has spread through the population like a cancer. That is why Sri Lanka will never come out of this abyss
He was the root cause for all conflicts among communities in Sri Lanka. It is an endless story .once Sri Lanka was a paradise Now the nation is reaping what they sowed.
When a colonial power favours one group in a society then the liberation government seeks to correct the imbalance. This can be seen in the history of India Nigeria Rwanda and South Africa . Combined with socialism this results in financial disaster and endless in fighting in countries that can ill afford either.
My mother and aunt were teachers in holy orders at just such a Catholic missionary school in Dehiwela where they taught sinhalese speaking children. My mother had already left the order by the time that my aunt was expelled from Ceylon by this man's daughter. She spent the last 15 years of her life idle in a Yorkshire mother house instead of bringing on another couple of generations of ceylonese children. She was mystified as to what Bandaranaike hoped to gain by dispensing with her skills. She was well aware of the friction between Ceylonese and Tamils which would turn very ugly indeed some years later.
What Bandaranaike did in 1956 was simply giving the majority Sinhalese their rightful place in the society after 133 years of opression by the colonial rulers. As a result their was a resurgence of Sinhalese culture and Buddhism in the country at the time and, some fractions of the society lost their preferential treatment they received previously under the colonial rule. That was the begining of "friction" you mentioned.
Not the works of one man. Typical post-UK situation, the Brits leaving behind time-bomb divisions to prevent the country to have prosperity or healthy relationships with its neighbours, in this case India.
Fully agree with the analysis ! SWRD must have experienced 'racism' while in GB, hence when he came back to SL (then Ceylon) and tried to get even with British ! However, while in GB, became the Chair of the Oxford Union and all that ! However, it is Mrs.B.........better half of SWRD who single handedly deprived a generation of Sri Lankan children the opportunity to learn English and by connect broaden their mindsets and improved their lives. Mrs. B............is supposedly have come out at a Aristo family gathering thus: "If each and sundry were to learn English who will pluck coconuts from our estates. Mrs. B...........did everything in her power to discourage learning English and the results is there for everybody to see and observe. India on the other hand did not 'throw the bath water with the baby' and how they have progressed is a painful reminder to Sri Lankans of the tragedy foisted upon by the Bs...on this 'hapless' country !
You are so wrong. It has one of the kindest people, and beautiful beaches and highlands. It has wonderful tourists sites and nice resorts. Colombo has a lot to do, but kinda crowded. Sri Lankan is overall amazing
I've lived here for a year and a half.... you are so wrong. And they need tourists to help with economic recovery so statements like yours are destructive
Sri Lanka is a paradise, as usual the British brought in foreign Labour and caused the division. It’s divide and rule. It’s still one of the best holiday resorts, friendly people, religious tolerance and ancient historical places to visit.
I recall hearing on the TV evening news programming, from time to time, all through the late 60s and into the 80s that ongoing set of problems. So, roughly the same hue of skin but language speaking or even accents being the political issue? With ability or education is of less importance, according to this clip. That being the case, where were the higher-ups getting their money? Stealing? Eventually, you run out of people worth stealing from or maybe enslaving, given a historical context. I was unaware of the late 50s politician being a major cause of this decades-long sets of fighting. Thank you, Dr. Sowell. I suppose that many people, certainly many or most politicians, don't comprehend that an education is an artifact, in a manner of speaking, and by extension then an educated person is also an artifact.
All politicians, especially long-term ones (Dems and RINOs), are corrupt. You think they're there to serve? LMAO. They always want to pocket taxpayer money.
No, same color of skin, the political issues in Ceylon being different religions, and the Tamils were historically (settlements in north Ceylon since BC) from India, so ethnicity/culture/origin.
This one sided article deliberately leaves out the role played by the Colonial Masters namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British in the darkest Chapter of the country's history i.e., the Colonial era (1505 - 1948) when the foreigners governed the country using the colonial strategy of ' Divide and Rule'. The same thing happened in India. In India's first war of liberation ( the so-called ' Indian Mutiny') in 1857, both Hindus and Muslims fought side by side against the British Empire. Then the British started using ploys to divide the Hindus and Muslims from fighting against the British to liberate India. The British caused division between the majority Hindus and the Minorities and finally divided British India into two India and Pakistan in 1947. The British legacy is a divided Indian sub - continent with unceasing conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, Sinhalese and Tamils, Buddhists and Christians, Hindus and Christians and the like. Furthermore, the British stole an estimated 45 trillion Dollars from India during 200 years of tyrannical colonial rule. The British Museums are full of artifacts stolen from British colonies including India and Sri Lanka. The British deposed the King of Kandy in 1815, the Moghul King of India Bahadur Shah in 1857 and the Burmese King of Myanmar in 1885 and transferred power to minorities. The same thing happened in British occupied Ceylon. The British wiped out the Kandyan Sinhala peasantry by enacting unjust draconian laws such as the Waste Lands Ordinance ( 1841) and replaced the Sinhalese in the Kandyan hill country with Malabar people imported from South India to work in the British run tea and coffee plantations. The British have so far not paid one red cent as compensation for the crimes committed in Ceylon especially against the Kandyan Sinhalese peasantry. The fight for Reparatory Justice by the people of Sri Lanka still continues unabated.
I think the british policy of bringing significant Indians immigrants to every country in colonised did NOT backfired only in Singapore and lesser extent malaya...in singapore because the independence leaders with incredible foresight imposed English as an national language and well rouggshod a new identity concept called Singaporean. So well there is history... presidents chief judges lawyers army generals and poiticians in Singapore of Indians ethnicities which roughly made up only 10% of the country's popularion.
I thought that it was the British deliberately bringing in the 'harder' working Indians into Ceylon. Thereby creating a new class of residents in Ceylon. Distinguished ethnically and by language. And, also by commercial and educational success. So, two separate groups of people squeezed into one country. Am I correct in my thinking? This prior information (if correct) wasn't mentioned in the clip.
Yes I may have inadvertently gave credance to right wing sinhalese view. While the british have brought in Indian Tamil and indentured labours and civil servants, Sri Lanka Tamils were in the island for thousand of years. British favouritism to Tamil in the civil service and as professional caused a great ofbthe backlash post independence
When discussing this topic, its important to acknowledge the "divide and rule" strategy used by the British. Bandaranayake is definitely responsible for what played out, however, the British needs to share equal blame. The British and other colonists had followed a similar playbook else where, like in India, Palestine/Israel, South Africa, Uganda etc. where conflict ensued soon after their exit resulting from the artificial balance of power created between the majorities and the minorities. All that said, I see an age of peace and prosperity for Sri Lanka!
Dear Mr. Sowell, still you are reading the old books of the issue. During the colonial time tamil community was given all benefits with all best schools in the country, in Northern region. All exams automatically first preference gone to them because of the rest of the country hadn't the opportunity to be educated and get good marks in exam. But this was changed by introducing the free education system. all talented young people got the opportunity to study and sit for the examinations. In 1975 it was found the all examinations papers written in Tamil had more marks un-lawfully, and government had stopped it. these issues limited the job opportunities for people in Jaffna. I am totally agreeing with you that "sinhala only" is a wrong policy and that was implemented by SWRD Bandaranaike to get the power.
Sleepy Joe, never had power. He was only a puppet for those that have an economic interest in selling fear. Fear of a virus, Fear of a war, Fear of fire, hurticaines, etc….
economic downturns and conflicts are common experiences for many countries throughout history. Sri Lanka’s challenges are not unique but rather part of the broader story of nation-building and recovery.
I love how you changed smaller bits to paint sinhalese as villains😂 British government used minority(tamils) to control majority(sinhalese). Also British government brought Indian (lower caste) tamils as slaves and they didn't had anything. Same time British government used Sri Lankan Tamils to control sinhalese and run the government. (Tamil people still have caste issues ) If sinhalese wanted any luxuries (smaller positions in government)or education they had to convert into Christianity. I can correct you all day but what's the point? You going to promote your agenda anyway 🤷🏼♂️ only thing I can say we were used as a slaves in our own country. (you guys calls it colonisation) and after British left Sri Lanka as a country we all had to face post colonisation issues. And the war India thought we were supporting USA so they(India) weaponized tamil people . Because of that war we ended up here. It's surprising to see how you guys treat black people and how you avoid accepting what British did here. Also in many other countries.
Yes! We could have been like Singapore. Lots of SL people went there including my relatives who own an actual house ( not apartment) there. Instead due to pride, nationalism and bad politicians we became the shame of Asia
No country is free from challenges, but history shows that perseverance, collaboration, and visionary leadership can transform even the direst circumstances into opportunities for growth and renewal. Sri Lanka, too, can emerge stronger by learning from its past and focusing on a united and prosperous future.
What Dr. Sowell doesnt understand is the fact that empowering the majority is more important than any economic benefit. It is better to live with one meal a day than being a slave enjoying three meals a day. The notion of prosperity through British economic mechanism would seem like a great success when looking from a global perspective. Yet, it has no substance to the ordinary people. Bandaranayake changed this way as he understood this very well due to his British education which got him to analyse the problem deeply. A shallow solution would be to continue the British-type reign yet, the socialist views enhanced the ordinary oppressed people. This is the most important outcome. So, Dr. Sowell, your views are just stereotypical views of the western society, they lack depth!
I'm Sri Lankan Singhalese and absolutely disagree with your ideology which is theoretical in sentiment but has no practical value. The evidence is Sri Lanka has never been run properly since independence and corruption has plagued every level of SriLankan society. Singapore has been the success of the 20th century and the locals there are not culturally devoid. We could have still retained our culturally identity, spoke Singhalese and Tamil as well as English and not had a pointless civil war. Colonialism had many bad effects but overall it was much worse afterwards.
@@creativesource3514 I was a Singapore permanent resident for 4 years. Singapore success is based on slavery of many south Asians mainly Blangladeshis. Singapore succeeded as a gateway to East Asia when Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand was not very accessible to Western investments. Australia is full of corruption so is USA and even Europe. Bandaranayake initiated many movements and Sirimao carried the rest in 70's, you might not have the same worldwide understanding that I have.
@@creativesource3514 I lived in Singapore as a resident for 4 years and I know first hand their success is based on exploitation of many south Asians such as Bangladeshis. Singapore was the gateway to East Asia 3 decades ago when western investments could not reliably operate in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Today, Singapore does not have this advantage anymore. Bandaranayake did the most rightful thing by the people by nationalisation which is nothing more than US laws against monopolies even Microsoft was subjected to. Sirimao carried out the rest of the restorations in 70's which greatly benefitted the majority who were intentionally sidelined by British as their modus operandi. in colonial rule. I can tell so much regarding this but do not want to open old wounds. My understanding about this is profound with over 40 years of experience, you might not believe this!
Well his wife became first female primme minister in the world following his assassination . His daughter chandrika also became mighty president of sri lanka . The rajapaksas also followed similar sinhala favoratism politics. There is a strong backing for such politics from generation to generation leading to bankruptcy .
It's natural for people and communities to respond to oppression by seeking ways to protect their identity, culture, and autonomy. In the context of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala-Buddhist majority has historically taken steps to preserve its cultural and religious heritage, especially after centuries of colonial rule. However, these efforts can sometimes be perceived differently by others, depending on the context and the policies or actions taken. Regarding the rejection of English, it's important to note that language often plays a complex role in post-colonial societies. While some may reject English as a symbol of colonial oppression, others might embrace it as a global lingua franca that opens doors to education, trade, and international relations. In Sri Lanka, English continues to be valued for its practical benefits while Sinhala and Tamil remain central to cultural identity. It’s also true that every country has its issues, and Sri Lanka is no exception. Like many nations, it grapples with challenges related to governance, ethnic relations, and socio-economic disparities. Critiques or discussions about these challenges, including videos or other media, can be interpreted in various ways. Some might see them as attacks, while others might view them as opportunities for reflection and dialogue. It’s crucial to approach such discussions with an open mind and sensitivity to context, ensuring that critiques are constructive and not divisive. Highlighting issues in a balanced manner can contribute to understanding and positive change rather than exacerbating tensions.
This is not the full truth, it gave some comfort to the underprivileged, the real destruction came in 1975 when Mr Felix extended the period of government till 1977. This changed the entire social system and brought war in Sri Lanka
Dr Sowell chose falsehood while describing India's Gujarath riots while being correct on overall picture. Not sure what to make out of this perspective on Srilanka.
While identifying societal issues is vital, attributing blame can fuel defensiveness and hinder progress. Instead, offering constructive criticism paired with actionable solutions can inspire change without creating animosity.
Promoting peace and unity requires sensitivity, open communication, and a commitment to understanding different perspectives. Your work has profoundly influenced countless individuals by challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging critical thought. While your analyses often highlight hard truths and stimulate important debates, I believe it is equally essential to explore ways to promote understanding and harmony through open communication, particularly in times of division. In today’s polarized world and especially in Sri Lanka, effective communication requires not only presenting facts but also fostering an environment where differing perspectives can coexist. When discussions escalate into conflict, the opportunity for mutual understanding diminishes. Instead, we should aim for dialogue that enlightens rather than divides.
As a student of systems I have come to the conclusion that political systems and governance reflect tooling needed for modes of production. The next generation of technology will lead to a trans-human mode, making necessary a totalitarian operating system, (communism > trans-humanism), which is how digital systems execute defined functions, keep order and equilibrium. It would seem that there are those, Klaus Schwab, Yuval Harari and perhaps Elon Musk, that feel inherently tribalistic and limited humans, and the scaled versions of tribes called sovereign nations, are not fit for the present or future and need technology to cure these limitations and "network of shared delusion" (Harari). I would be keen to hear from Dr. Sowell his thoughts on this trajectory and the ability to keep the future human-centric with liberty, individual and national identity and sovereignty intact.
SWRDB ruined the country with the “ Sinhala Only “ policy entirely for selfish motives! Result was, there was no communication within the different ethnic groups as we were NOT TAUGHT TAMIL IN OUR SCHOOLS!! Thanks to our parents, we learnt English with the result that , we’ve genuine Tamil friends !!! Not a majority was that fortunate 😒
![Honest Government Ad | Democracy™ [Blocked in 🇮🇳]](/img/n.gif)
Dr. Sowell is one of the very few that I can listen to without first ingesting a grain of salt...or two.
Thank you for your integrity, sir.
America seems to be running a little short in that department.
For now.
Understatement galore
Yet another example of Socialism and identity politics being disastrous.
This is not socialism. This is normal human behavior. Multiculturalism never works, even if they're the same color or race. There will always be groups. The only winners are the majority who take over. That's it. Either you or them. Understand this.
This sounds very much like National Socialism, doing what it and generic Socialism always does. Destroys society, impoverishes their people, and institutionalizes injustice.
especially when combined.
@@scottmccrea1873identity politics is the next step for communist to transform a society. Socialism is just another rung on the ladder.
@@scottmccrea1873they are always combined.
Nationalism combined with socialism, where have I heard that one before?
I think you're on crack where is nationalism have anything to do with this
hmm...Tamils were killed in millions...its neither nationalism nor socialism....Its called Ethnic cleansing
@@naveenjayapal2331 at the most a one or two lakhs not millions and Sinhalese also died in the conflict
USSR=nazism
Nationalist socialist- nazi germany
And the current regime in Sri Lanka has indebted itself to China and ceded majority ownership of major ports to the ChiComs.
Sri Lanka easily could've been another Singapore or Hong Kong
Now it's just another South Asian slaveport
Something both parties are now regretting. The Chinese have learned the same lesson we and the Russians learned in the 60s and 70s: pouring tons of cash into "allies" never works out well. The money is generally stolen by the local elite, little benefit accrues to the "donor" nation.
like Portugal, like Italy, like Greece, Like France, like Germany, like Scandinavia...
Still repeating the debunked lie again and again I see. The only reason Sri Lanka rent out the port to the Chinese is so they can repay western debt in the first place.
Good grief.
You are only making a strong case for the British Empire. Making the language spoken by more than75% of the people in Sri Lanka , the national language wasn't a crime. If SWRDB didn't do it, someone else would have done it. SWRDB passed the Tamil language special provisions act at the same time. In Germany it's German, In France it's French, In Malaysia, it's Malay. So why not Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. I was educated in a private school (Trinity) and a government school (Ananda) and something I experienced was that many clever and intelligent students wouldn't have had the opportunity to rise up in their education if they didn't have the opportunity to study in the mother tongues (Sinhalese or Tamil). It was because, they came from villages where they did not have the opportunity to learn English from the time of their parents or grand parents. Only big cities like Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna had schools which had English medium. Sri Lanka produced many scientists, doctors , engineers from rural villages after SWRDB provided and opportunity for the children from villages to have their education in their mother tongue as when they started secondary or tertiary education, they could pick up the English language quickly and could gain knowledge using English text books as well. Otherwise they would have failed at the early stages itself. The book village in the jungle explains how those villagers who did not have knowledge of English went to jail during colonial times even though they were innocent.
💯 agree
Surely the solution would have been to extend the English medium to rural Sri Lanka? My parents and grand parents from Colombo from the 60s and earlier had grammatically perfect English yet did not compromise their Singhalese language and culture and were strong Buddhists.
Sri Lanka has been an utter failure over the last 50 years, especially the last 20 years.
@@creativesource3514 It's natural for people and communities to respond to oppression by seeking ways to protect their identity, culture, and autonomy. In the context of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala-Buddhist majority has historically taken steps to preserve its cultural and religious heritage, especially after centuries of colonial rule. However, these efforts can sometimes be perceived differently by others, depending on the context and the policies or actions taken.
Regarding the rejection of English, it's important to note that language often plays a complex role in post-colonial societies. While some may reject English as a symbol of colonial oppression, others might embrace it as a global lingua franca that opens doors to education, trade, and international relations. In Sri Lanka, English continues to be valued for its practical benefits while Sinhala and Tamil remain central to cultural identity.
It’s also true that every country has its issues, and Sri Lanka is no exception. Like many nations, it grapples with challenges related to governance, ethnic relations, and socio-economic disparities. Critiques or discussions about these challenges, including videos or other media, can be interpreted in various ways. Some might see them as attacks, while others might view them as opportunities for reflection and dialogue.
It’s crucial to approach such discussions with an open mind and sensitivity to context, ensuring that critiques are constructive and not divisive. Highlighting issues in a balanced manner can contribute to understanding and positive change rather than exacerbating tensions.
100%
Exactly!!! What a shame. Just one gready man destroyed a whole country and still not recovered from the mess
In 1976 I was attending high school in Kuwait. Our bus driver was a Sri Lankan gentleman. He explained to me (I was the only one interested) that he still thought of it as Ceylon. He was sending his wages home like thousands of other expatriates. All of this story that Dr. Sowell relates takes place during my early 20's and I'm ashamed that this is the first I have heard of it.
You are absolutely right, Thomas. The 1956 Act is what led to our self-destruction. Thank you, Thomas, for sharing this. I am Sinhalese, but I never emphasize my ethnicity; I always refer to my nationality/ethnicity as Sri Lankan. My dream is for English to become the official language because I studied in Sinhala for more than 13 years in school, but when I pursued my BSc at a government university, everything was in English. This experience made me resent Sinhala and motivated me to work hard to learn English.
I have decided that I will not teach my children in the Sinhala medium; instead, I want them to study in English. If English were to become the official language of Sri Lanka, I would feel as though I were in heaven. I deeply regret the suffering endured by our Tamil brothers and sisters-they have suffered far more than us. I am confident that a new government will address the remaining issues step by step.
Well said brother
This is easier to say in hindsight. Back in 1956 the ground reality was far more different than today.
So true@@azharmaheeza1872
As becoming obvious with the so called American Empire of this day in process of disintegration after similar exploitation through major trade conflicts to gain access & chokehold control over the earth’s current natural resources predominantly to it’s own use to create a showpiece of an orderly law abiding democratic nation in noble quest,so was its immediate predecessor the huge colonial inspired British Empire, desire to leave the international political scene with dignity after its economic collapse from the two world wars of the last millennium & having to grant independence to large territory varied peoples they brought together or divided in loyalty or disapproval as the given moment suited the imperialist power of the time. No wonder at all therefore, socialism & communism appealed to freedom fighters of impoverished nations united in common purpose for the time being . America is now finding out the consequences of destabilizing of democracies & supporting military & electoral autocrats directed primarily against Russia of Soviet era right upto the latter’s Putin led altered ideology, besides wanting to add China among its enemy lists. Has found the right man it appears , to disenchant the rest of the vast world away from even those few friends among large nation states by trade embargo threats posturing this nation is too weak in carrying out .
GOATS DON'T KNOW HISTORY. SO THEY DIGEST 14:54 WHATEVER MUCK IS FED TO THEM. 😊
I'm feeling unburdened by what has been and it's getting better with the significance of the passage of time..
Wow, I love the use of language and the sentiment. Good job of providing joy to those of us less poet. After all, it was about joy, joy, joy, joy!
LMAO
Lol. Good one! 👍
I might have to move there.
That crazy… I feel the time that has been has unburdened me…. 😂
Every politician, at heart, is a gangster. They don't care how much damage they inflict as long as they profit.
God bless you always Historian Thomas Sowell 🙏🇺🇲💪❤️
Lets hope Obama's race baiting does not lead to this same outcome in the USA...
It already has see the George Kirby riots
The barry has always said he wanted to destroy his mother's nation. He has ever written it in some of his papers. I do not understand people. He said it and he wrote it. You barry supporters still refuse to believe.
Too late for that, should have been stopped during Obozo's second re-election run.
who listens to obama anymore? not even bike mike pays attention
@@deathlarsen7502which is a shame it's causing normal law abiding people people to act like idiots.
Let's say there was systamatic violence they can't reason it out ? You can't show overwhelming evidence why destroy shops and other places why harm police offers they are trying to help you from getting fucked over.
Again as an Bengali man I don't understand it as long I have a job as long as I can find work why would ever dream of harming cops ?
Singapore is a richest country because they study in English and has other languages as official. English spoke all over the world not Sinhalese or Tamil.
Thomas Sowell is an American treasure.
BS!
Nobody talks about the injustice happend to the majority Sinhalese up to 1956 in the spehers of access to education, employement and language barrier under the colonial rule. They were third class citizens in their own country. What simply happend in 1956 was the majority of country got their rightful place in the society. There is nothing wrong in that.
Exactly right. SWRD blazed a new trail in Sri lankan politics to liberate the down trodden and unsophisticated masses in Sri Lanka. Yet his policies were not totally flawless. His language policy created a fissure in the country and affected badly the education system.
@@pmwijeratne1896 True, but it was the quickest way to liberate the masses. Policies may not be perfect but things were not perfect under the colonial rule either.
Yeah that's what i'm saying. brits ef up the whole demographics in few years that Sri Lanka had over two millennia by importing millions of workers from other countries. And now look at irony that they're complaining and rioting over migrants in their country
Then he should have made both languages official, or improve the military and intelligence services in the north to counter the upcoming separatism
Absolutely true 👍
Ideologues always subvert every aspect of a society to their cause whenever they come to power. The actual functions of everything become at most secondary as everything is sacrificed for their ideals. The same mistakes have been made worldwide repeatedly across the centuries and led by groups which have little in common side from being ideologues. And yet even with the abundance of information so easily accessible as offered on the Internet it is still absurdly common today.
The ruling elite were the Christian Anglo-Lankans who were autocratic. How did the poor Tamils become the target? Socialists and Fundamentalists often ally to come to power, and once in power they actively work to undermine the other. In Sri Lanka Bandarnaike the Socialist came to power riding the fundamentalist bull, whereas in Iran the Ayatollah a Fundamentalist got extensive support from the Socialists in ousting the Shah.
The “poor Tamils” should have stayed home. It’s perfectly ok that the Sinhalese didn’t want the Tamil immigrants there.
@@peterfireflylund nonsensical statement. Tamils and Sinhalese were on the island for nearly 3000 years.
@@rao8559 sure, just like Ukraine is Russian…
@@rao8559 Tamils were in Jaffna and northern SL and around Colombo for historically. But British brought tens of thousands of new Tamil people to work on Tea/Rubber plantations.
This is similar to the Immigration crisis that happened near border/sanctuary states in the US or the refugee crisis in Germany.
Lol if don't know history 💩💩💩stfu@@peterfireflylundit was only the Indian tamil who were brought there by the white to work in the plantations who were send back to india in huge numbers after independence did u even watch the video? The sl tamils were always there they are infact older then the so called sinhalese Both the tamils and sinhalese also come from the same family line who used to marry each other for political power and domination of the island before the arrival of Europeans in the island
Nehru and Bandaranaike had a lot a common. Both were Anglophiles and detested their own ethnicities, both were socialists and had no idea how to manage the economy, how to handle crises or what nationalism was. Both destroyed their respective countries.
Very correct
True. They are just political pawns of colonial era.
Bandaranaike was not a real socialist. He was born in the lap of luxury and made himself up to be the saviour of the Sinhala people. He was definitely a nationalist. One can argue that almost all Sri Lankan leaders until the current president have been Right-wing Nationalists.
And they both went to Oxford
Who said nehru detested his own ethnicity? He was a nationalist considering he was one of the leaders within the struggle for independence. Economically, socialism was the right policy at the time. The problem only was that Nehru's successors didn't liberalise. And "destroyed" seriously? Like can't you at least give someone credit for having inherited a poor agricultural country and having at least set up a quite stable state? Nehru is probably a major factor behind why India never suffered a military coup or civil war. Compare him to his contempories and while he may not be the best, at least he might come in the top 5 or 10. He handled nationalism quite well infact better than the current government which is hellbent on creating a state where a mandir takes importance over income. Narendra Modi is infact trying to destroy the nation that Nehruso meticulously built.
I love the Sir Lanka people, they are intelligent and good hard working good people, I'm an old white man here in Texas to these are the kind of people who need special attention to legal status, believe me there great people
Sri lankan Tamil here. Immigrated to Canada with my parents as a child after the 1983 riots . What Dr. Sowell says is correct. All his life, my father blamed SWRD Bandaranayaka for ruining the country and fanning flames that were just small embers. My godparents are Sinhalese. Among the middle class we mixed between the ethnic groups. My parents loved SL. We only left because we didn't have a choice. Was on a business trip in Switzerland 10 years ago. Ended up talking with a Swiss young lady on the train. She said Sri Lankans work hard and did not go chasing after and harassing women like other migrants. In Switzerland and in France there were so many Sri Lnkans that came as refugees that they got their own pilgrimage day at a monastery in Switzerland . In France, Charte cathedral, is booked on Pentecost Sunday for the Sri lankans and it it gets so packed that hundreds of people end up standing outside.
@@GraceAbrhamsGa1970 I love you, brother or sister. Welcome back to Sri Lanka! The new government will do its best to ensure that not only the Sinhalese but also the Tamils can live their best lives.
I studied in Sinhala, but when I pursued my BSc, I struggled because my education was in Sinhala. Honestly, I dislike the Sinhala medium. I don’t want my children to study in Sinhala because, to me, it feels inadequate. Currently, I’m doing my MSc, but I still regret the time I spent learning in Sinhala.
If the 1956 Act hadn’t been passed, English would have been Sri Lanka’s official language, and I would have loved that. My dream is to make English the official language and to ensure that Tamil people, especially, can live happy lives. It would bring joy to those who truly need it.
@@webshealth Im sorry thats so wrong, No one in Sri Lanka had to study BSc in Sinhala, it was always in English.. Making the language spoken by more than 75% of the people in Sri Lanka , the national language wasn't a crime. If SWRDB didn't do it, someone else would have done it. SWRDB passed the tamil language special provisions act at the same time. In Germany it's German, In France it's French, In Malaysia, it's Malay. So why not Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. That racist envious tamil (only) eelam thing tended to destroy lakhs of individuals of both ours.
Thank you Mr Thomas Sowell. You are a God send.🙏💚💛❤🙏
As so often happens with US commentators, despite being as fair as he can be (and he is very fair), the author still cannot see through the immovable US blind spot to the point of not even mentioning it: 1972 was not just the year that university entrance exams changed, it was also the year that Ceylon decided to change from a constitutional monarchy like Canada, the UK and Australia, and became a new, Sinhalese-dominated republic with a new, symbolically Sinhalese flag, called by the specifically Sinhalese name Sri Lanka.
You see, from Independence until 1972, the Crown had served as a symbolic restraint on ethno-nationalistic tendencies, standing for fairness and equal treatment well above the political and racial fray. It had to go, and since republicanisation in 1972 it has been all relentlessly downhill for Sri Lanka.
I am not blaming the US for what has happened in Sri Lanka, but the US blind spot regarding George III has led to multiple foolish mistakes favouring ideologically "clean" republics over benign, peaceful, but ideologically suspect (to the US) monarchies: Cambodia in 1970 (too chummy with China), Iran in 1979 (Carter hilariously thought the Shah was too repressive), Afghanistan (the Loya Jirga) in 2002, Eastern Europe after Communism (Albright's "we don't do kings"), and many, many more. The one time that pragmatism won out over the blind spot was one of the greatest post-war successes: Japan.
what can be done about that tho, that's their own mistake.
Nice contribution to the topic.
I wonder if the writer Arthur C. Clarke had some understanding about this. I seem to recall that he was very supportive of Ceylon in some way.
It's because the war mongers need a reason to collect taxes on the people. Income taxes were unheard of until about ww1 or 2 when the gov needed money. So congress quietly implemented a tax on the people that was only used in wartime. Hence the need for constant nose poking.
There’s no blind spot. They (the US, and Britain) know well in advance what will happen ahead of any actions they take. That’s the point.
I’ve been reflecting on everything Sri Lanka has been through, and I feel it’s time we focus on hope and positivity. Sri Lanka has faced so many challenges, but I truly believe in the strength and resilience of its people.
I want to share this prayer with you for Sri Lanka’s success:
May Sri Lanka rise above its challenges with strength and wisdom.
May its people find unity and peace, working together toward a brighter future.
May its leaders be guided by justice and compassion, making decisions that uplift everyone.
May the economy stabilize and flourish, bringing opportunities for all.
And may Sri Lanka’s beauty, culture, and spirit continue to inspire the world.
Let’s hold on to hope and work together in whatever small ways we can to contribute to the success of this beautiful country.
We don't learn from history because history like this is not taught
This is the kind of country Obama wants the US to become.
Will President Trump be blamed by the Obama supporters?
@@greggweber9967 Which ones? The ones who shot at him or...?
@@greggweber9967 they have done that since the first Trump term
OBAMA lol, he is nothing but a puppet, get real.
You mean the people who control Obama.
He was nothing before they plucked him out a a ___ bar and elevated him to the Presidency.
You have trouble buying decent tea in Sri Lanka. It is nearly all exported. Brilliant economics.
Can kind of relate here in Australia, many of own foods we grow and resources we export cost more to buy here, in large part due to government incompetency and bureaucracy driving up fuel and energy prices.
Makes a strong case for the British Empire.
nop it's not. the point is nation building. singapore,malaysia and hongkong (although not a country) prosper after brittish colonization. so what went wrong with Sri Lanka?
@@alfonstabz9741they didn’t carry on with inherited democratic western procedures, dummy!
Not really, more an indictment of letting third world people run things they weren't able to themselves create.
@@alfonstabz9741shortsightedness
A few notable exceptions.
The divisive policies of colonial rulers have caused bloodshed in India/Pakistan, countries in western Africa, Palestine, Kashmir, and other regions after their departure. Some of these conflicts continue to this day. In Sri Lanka, Bandaranayke was doing only damage control. Therefore, if somebody wants to assign blame for these conflicts, it should be directed at the colonial rulers.
There is one thing that is incorrect here though. There have been Tamils in Sri Lanka from 3rd Century long beforr the any tea plantations.
Well So called Aryans were in India for more than 5000 years. So can you tell this to the DMK?
He knows that's why he separates them in calling them Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan tamils
@@krishnaats7141 Sure. Will do. But they are too consumed in their catesist drivel that I personally feel they are beyond redemption. Personally I have never subscribed to the Aryan and Dravidian theory. The movement of people and their interaction was more organic. We are all one and the same.
Deconstructionist destruction.
When Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus started the same Sinhala Politics ( rename it Greek Politics) in Cyprus, Turkey invaded and carved a separate state. for Turkish minorities, mostly muslims. But while atrocities on Hindus and Tamils were taking place Nehru did not interfere. It took another 50 years before Tamils started to fight, and that too without India's help. Same with Tibet. Nehru sold Tibet to China , because he believed in Panch Shila. That was the difference between Turkey and India.
I worry they are doing same to today's BDesh
What Bandaranaike did in 1956 was simply giving the majority Sinhalese their rightful place in the society after 133 years of opression by the colonial rulers. As a result their was a resurgence of Sinhalese culture and Buddhism in the country at the time and, some fractions of the society lost their preferential treatment they received previously under the colonial rule.
Sooperaa iggudhu Kichu maama, nannaa jaadhi veri urutti vudureengo! Besh besh! MGR veray ceylonkaar , ayyayyohh! 🤭
@@ktlouash641-j8b idu la jaadi yengendu vandiricchi!?
Exactly@@slwide7507
Wow, programs designed around "Equity" have been tried and found wanting? Yeah, let's try that here in America!!
The Sinhalese political elites wanted programs designed around "Equity?"
equity "could" work if we give the one from minus position steps into zero not plus 10 and give no hurdles that already at five,
@@jalpat2272 Who does the giving?
@@mdhj67 I would say institutions, ideally the nation and society, we help people in need so until they able to help themselves.
I remember most news focused on Tamil terrorism but completely ignored the government retaliation. As usual the media were one sided in their coverage.
Is it called terrorism if you fight to defend yourselves?
@@Someone-uu9xvdepends on the means I suppose
History repeats itself today
Because Sri Lanka government is a terrorist and made a genocide they are not victims rather Tamils are.
It was state-terrorism which gave birth to so called terrorism of oppressed people.
From 1950s to 1970s until the raise of Tamil militancy, It was Sri Lankan state unleashing state terrorism on innocent. Unarmed Tamil civilians.
The state terrorism includes discrimination, marginalisation on ethnic basis. Sponsoring pogroms on Unarmed civilians.
These acts are not defending. It is called committing genocide.
Verdict: Sri Lanka is guilty of Tamil genocide.
Sounds like the US Democrats to me.
I was a Minnesota Democrat and Mormon Missionary… I disagree with you.
So....the US Democrats are supporting the majority White population's ethno-nationalism?
Interesting take.
It does.
exactly and congress in India
Thanks
Thank you very much for this lesson.
This is a one sided lesson. He talks only about post independence Sri Lanka. He does not talk about the opression of majorty Sinhalese during the colonial rule.
Interestingly, while I was at Senior Leadership Course with the army as a 37F this was the scenario, fighting/ supporting an insurgency in Sri Lanka. Oddly enough, the background information was not this specific as to why the tensions were there.
Why would they inform you? You’re a soldier, follow orders and don’t ask questions.
There was the involvement of parties other than India and Sri Lanka that wanted to use Sri Lankan Tamil demand for a separate nation demand to balkanize India
Lol yes the telegu party of tamilnadu dmk
@@rickfresherParadoxically, what you say is truth, and not many people in India know this. And nowadays, in Sri Lanka's side, too many people deny this as well.
The core foreign back of Tamil Nationalism in Ceylon was the Dravidian movement and its Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, which saw on these issues in the island as a golden way to achieve its Dravidisthan goal. But its highly corrupt and dynastic mechanism made it sink theses plans halfway, for acting concretely as the regional B-team of the Indian Congress and peculiarly the Gandhis.
It's nowadays that Tamil Eelam issue is associated with Tamildesiyam on Indian side. But historically, it was DMK who partly trained, armed and financed the rebellious movements in Northern Sri Lanka.
@@rickfresherthat Tamils are very very happy to vote.
You must be a xtian 😂😂😂 keep on believing in narratives to hate India.
Thank you Mr. Thomas Sowell. Thomas Sowell is truly an American treasure, do you agree with me?
it's not about you. If you have to interpose yourself, comment on the contents of the programme.
Never! This man only speaks for the privileged minorities who benefited enotmously under Colonial rule !
Today Sri Lankans are among the most educated, healthy and free people in the emerging countries of the Gobal South !
I still remember the morning the news of former India PM Rajiv Gandhi being assassinated. Everyone was in shock and I don't think any adult that morning laughed or sang or was cheerful. No matter what, he was our nation's PM and to learn that he was blown to bits, it was quite distressing and sad.
He was not the PM when he was assassinated.
No deep investigation s. Have been made so far.
Foreign hands could be there. Further commission
Inquiry is pending or not released to.public
He forgets something important. The fact that the British bought in a huge amount of Tamil population which caused resentment. This is also true in many other countries in which tribes and communities that loathed each other were forced into one nation by the colonial powers.
Of course nothing justifies the slaughter and discrimination but have a look at the root causes.
And the reason why this politician was elected is because he said the things that people in the country wanted to hear. He was a hypocritical populist. And today you can see many hypocritical populists in the west who are winning elections because they can appeal to the basest emotions in the populace.
True. Colonialism caused more conflict in countries because the colonisers brought in cheap Labour and left with unrest among the population as it happened in Malaysia in the sixties with riots among the ethnic Malays and the Chinese imported labour. No such thing happened in Thailand as it was never colonised.
Also Tamils and Sinhalese believe in two different versions of SL history. Tamils believe in a mythical Tamil past based on Dravidian idea. It has become a political ideology in TN. Tamils in SL were influenced by Tamil nationalism in TN.
@ the indigenous people of Sri Lanka are the Veddas the Tamils have a homeland and it is Tamilnadu, there are no 2 homelands for any race unless it’s a country they emigrate to and consider it as their second home. The Sinhalese came from some part of northern India, their language has no Tamil connection.
In full agreement
@@Lizzi31It is a lie. "True" Sinhala are the only people who are native to the land they live and also the only people speaking a natural language in the whole world. Don't count on bogus Sinhala who took the local identity with the help of English. Homeland is a concept propagated by English speaking migrants occupying others' land. Tamil language is an artificial language created around sixth century AD where they copied Sinhala and other local languages en masse. When it comes to concocting history they are as good as English. They are not native to South Asia and can be traced back to Mesopotamia. So called Veddas are migrants from Malayali community in South India who escaped to jungles to save lives from Tamil rulers who grabbed power. These so called Veddas do not have anything to suggest primitive nature found in other tribes living in the wild.
I wonder why you have'nt mentioned J.R.Jayawardane in this video about putting this nation in this mess.
Complex topics often lead to misunderstanding. Presenting ideas with clarity and avoiding condescension can prevent misinterpretations and encourage thoughtful dialogue. The goal is to educate and exchange ideas, not to win arguments.
You make a compelling point that focusing on past grievances can sometimes hinder progress in modern contexts. In the case of Sri Lanka, where diverse communities have endured a complex history, the path forward should emphasize healing, growth, and collective advancement rather than reopening old wounds.
Reminded me of this Burgher quote (they got out/were displaced first) "We Burghers are a middle-class community, a law-abiding people. We hate disruption, and we are out of sympathy with socialism and revolution".
Burghers always got preferential treatment from the colonial rulers before independence. During the colonial rule the social hierarchy was British, Burghers, Tamils, Muslims and last the Sinhalese. What simply happend in 1956 was the majority of the country got their rightful place in the society. It was brutal but there is nothing wrong in that. But I appreciate Burghers because after 1956 they accepted the ground reality and migrated to Australia, UK, New Zealand without making further trouble.
Finally, truth is spoken. I'm a Sri Lankan, a Sinhalese and I can't speak up about this among people because many of them get angry for calling out these 'national heroes'. These people singlehandedly disturbed and mistreated ethnic minorities which led to a huge war. The things these politicians and extremists have done is absurd. A professor even protested by starving himself to death against making the Tamil language the second national language. This racism and chauvinism has been running Sri Lankan politics all these years for so long.
But now, things are seemingly getting better. I'm happy about that. People need to learn to accept past mistakes, do the justice and make things better for the future.
I hope that we learn a lesson from history and that it's the correct lesson.
Like always, some will learn, some won’t. There are varying degrees of intelligence, always have been. That’s why this cycle goes round and round ad infinitim.
I thought you were going to be talking about Keir Starmer and his socialist government in the UK.
He has done a huge amount of damage in just 5 months.
what was there to ruine exactly? the UK was allready terrible since at least Blair so I have to know, what did he do?
@@istoppedcaring6209
Blair was bad and left the country broke and he opened the door to unregulated immigration.
Since then successive Tory governments have made not dealt with the issues that affect the British.
But, Starmer has made promises and election pledges to deal with the issues, non of which he has carried out. In fact every policy decision that he has made has failed and made things worse.
The economy is dead, unemployment is rising, companies are moving out or closing, the education system is just about to collapse when all the private schools shut and then the tax payer will have to fund the building and running of another 20+ secondary schools to educate all the extra children coming into the state system.
The tax policies put in place by someone who claimed to be an economist is actually costing the country more money than what it did before.
This Labour "government" needs to go, and go quickly.
Starmer,biden,and trudeau ......
While it is essential to recognize historical injustices and learn from them, the focus should be on using those lessons to create a better future. Holding onto resentment can perpetuate division, whereas a forward-looking approach can foster unity and collaboration.
What if Thomas Sowell was on Pres. Trump's Advisor team ?
He's 94 years old. I think the body begins to be limiting at some point. His writings are always available to Trump.
@@jrstf Trump doesn’t read.
@@SLF-o2w - Is an audio book that different from a paper book?
@@SLF-o2wBecause Trump is born dumb and ignorant. 🙄🤡
Thank you Dr Sowell for this presentation. I come from New Zealand and have worked with people from Sri Lanka. I have been very aware of the Civil War there. The husband of a co-worker came to New Zealand as a refugee. The unrest explains the large number of Sri Lankan people seeking a new life overseas. My co-worker has four siblings and not one of them lives in Sri Lanka.
Only her widowed mother remains.
The British Government as per usual created an elite class in an Asian country. Like in India created an Independence framework in a hurried exit. Leaving the Indian Tamils vulnerable, the majority Singlese and minority Tamils jousting for commercial, political and military cohesion. In the end a country is now burdened with debt, a mishmash for infrastructure and a skills and brain drain.
The British Government, as per usual, left them a working form of government, legal system and economy....it was the locals decision to take a wrecking ball to it all. They all *could* have just learned to get along.
@@Yawbus1976 How easy for you to say! You hail from a privileged class of this noble British society, I suppose.
@@Yawbus1976
Oh yes, learned to get along. No wonder the Scots and the Welsh love you leave alone the Irish. The English never experience racism when other visit Scotland, right! They are afraid of even visiting the pubs. More comments!
British did more. Before 1911 there was no Tamil ethnicity. British orientalists created a Tamil ethnicity with an imaginary history. Tamil imaginary history was created based on Dravidian hypothesis
@@starrynight43451 Where did you learn history from? The Dravidian ideology has nothing to do with the Tamil cause. In fact, the fake Dravidian peddlers helped the Sinhalese government in wiping out the freedom struggle.
It's not nationalism. It's religious extremism that led to this situation. Even today it has spread through the population like a cancer. That is why Sri Lanka will never come out of this abyss
Nah it’s a mix of both.
Nonsense 😂 .. there is no religion extremists but race extremists
I agree its a mix of both
@@piratepuppy3394 No religion extremists? Which part of the world you are born and stayed?
@ChowYewLoon you are not sri lanka? It's mean better you shut your mouth
The heading was so unidirectionally wrong.
Anytime government grows and takes power and meddles, disaster ensues. When will people learn that small government is best.
He was the root cause for all conflicts among communities in Sri Lanka. It is an endless story .once Sri Lanka was a paradise
Now the nation is reaping what they sowed.
I thought this was about Justin Trudeau! He's ruined Canada...
When a colonial power favours one group in a society then the liberation government seeks to correct the imbalance. This can be seen in the history of India Nigeria Rwanda and South Africa . Combined with socialism this results in financial disaster and endless in fighting in countries that can ill afford either.
Exactly.
My mother and aunt were teachers in holy orders at just such a Catholic missionary school in Dehiwela where they taught sinhalese speaking children. My mother had already left the order by the time that my aunt was expelled from Ceylon by this man's daughter. She spent the last 15 years of her life idle in a Yorkshire mother house instead of bringing on another couple of generations of ceylonese children. She was mystified as to what Bandaranaike hoped to gain by dispensing with her skills. She was well aware of the friction between Ceylonese and Tamils which would turn very ugly indeed some years later.
What Bandaranaike did in 1956 was simply giving the majority Sinhalese their rightful place in the society after 133 years of opression by the colonial rulers. As a result their was a resurgence of Sinhalese culture and Buddhism in the country at the time and, some fractions of the society lost their preferential treatment they received previously under the colonial rule. That was the begining of "friction" you mentioned.
Not the works of one man. Typical post-UK situation, the Brits leaving behind time-bomb divisions to prevent the country to have prosperity or healthy relationships with its neighbours, in this case India.
Fully agree with the analysis ! SWRD must have experienced 'racism' while in GB, hence when he came back to SL (then Ceylon) and tried to get even with British ! However, while in GB, became the Chair of the Oxford Union and all that ! However, it is Mrs.B.........better half of SWRD who single handedly deprived a generation of Sri Lankan children the opportunity to learn English and by connect broaden their mindsets and improved their lives. Mrs. B............is supposedly have come out at a Aristo family gathering thus: "If each and sundry were to learn English who will pluck coconuts from our estates. Mrs. B...........did everything in her power to discourage learning English and the results is there for everybody to see and observe. India on the other hand did not 'throw the bath water with the baby' and how they have progressed is a painful reminder to Sri Lankans of the tragedy foisted upon by the Bs...on this 'hapless' country !
I thought this was going to be about Joe Biden
It is.
More fitting of President Obama.
@@jrstf Obama runs Biden. He said so himself. All of Biden's disasters are the Bum's on steroids.
Thanks God for saving Trump.
Sri Lanka is a mess. If you love to travel, it's one place you can skip.
You are so wrong. It has one of the kindest people, and beautiful beaches and highlands. It has wonderful tourists sites and nice resorts. Colombo has a lot to do, but kinda crowded. Sri Lankan is overall amazing
They are recovering slowly. Lovely beaches, good people, good food.
@@Will-z4hagree
❤sri Lanka
I've lived here for a year and a half.... you are so wrong. And they need tourists to help with economic recovery so statements like yours are destructive
Sri Lanka is a paradise, as usual the British brought in foreign Labour and caused the division. It’s divide and rule. It’s still one of the best holiday resorts, friendly people, religious tolerance and ancient historical places to visit.
Very good summary.
Thank you, Dr, Sowell
SWRD let loose the communal forces in 1956 & he paid for it with his life.
nation is not a state nor a cultural unity, it's historical homogeneity, one extended family
If Bandaranayaka wasn't there, no Sinhal language today.
I recall hearing on the TV evening news programming, from time to time, all through the late 60s and into the 80s that ongoing set of problems. So, roughly the same hue of skin but language speaking or even accents being the political issue? With ability or education is of less importance, according to this clip. That being the case, where were the higher-ups getting their money? Stealing? Eventually, you run out of people worth stealing from or maybe enslaving, given a historical context. I was unaware of the late 50s politician being a major cause of this decades-long sets of fighting. Thank you, Dr. Sowell. I suppose that many people, certainly many or most politicians, don't comprehend that an education is an artifact, in a manner of speaking, and by extension then an educated person is also an artifact.
All politicians, especially long-term ones (Dems and RINOs), are corrupt. You think they're there to serve? LMAO. They always want to pocket taxpayer money.
Identity politics
The United States sent a lot of "Foreign Aid" during that time which was stolen by the political elite.
You don't need an education. Just be the right color and you get cheats from the Government.
No, same color of skin, the political issues in Ceylon being different religions, and the Tamils were historically (settlements in north Ceylon since BC) from India, so ethnicity/culture/origin.
This one sided article deliberately leaves out the role played by the Colonial Masters namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British in the darkest Chapter of the country's history i.e., the Colonial era (1505 - 1948) when the foreigners governed the country using the colonial strategy of ' Divide and Rule'.
The same thing happened in India. In India's first war of liberation ( the so-called ' Indian Mutiny') in 1857, both Hindus and Muslims fought side by side against the British Empire. Then the British started using ploys to divide the Hindus and Muslims from fighting against the British to liberate India. The British caused division between the majority Hindus and the Minorities and finally divided British India into two India and Pakistan in 1947. The British legacy is a divided Indian sub - continent with unceasing conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, Sinhalese and Tamils, Buddhists and Christians, Hindus and Christians and the like.
Furthermore, the British stole an estimated 45 trillion Dollars from India during 200 years of tyrannical colonial rule. The British Museums are full of artifacts stolen from British colonies including India and Sri Lanka. The British deposed the King of Kandy in 1815, the Moghul King of India Bahadur Shah in 1857 and the Burmese King of Myanmar in 1885 and transferred power to minorities. The same thing happened in British occupied Ceylon. The British wiped out the Kandyan Sinhala peasantry by enacting unjust draconian laws such as the Waste Lands Ordinance ( 1841) and replaced the Sinhalese in the Kandyan hill country with Malabar people imported from South India to work in the British run tea and coffee plantations. The British have so far not paid one red cent as compensation for the crimes committed in Ceylon especially against the Kandyan Sinhalese peasantry. The fight for Reparatory Justice by the people of Sri Lanka still continues unabated.
It’s way too complicated than this. This is from Wikipedia
BRILLIANT!! Absolutely BRILLIANT. Professor Sowell is a GENIUS.
Buddhist extremists and assassins? What? I thought Buddah was against violence
Sometimes people will resort to violence to defend their identity.
You are only acquainted with Tibetian Buddhism. Buddhism in other countries is as violent as Islam
Look at the Buddhist countries in asia. All too common.
@@bunnystrasseno one was robbing their identity. It's just politics and power struggle.
Thanks God for saving Trump.
Thomas Sowel always has a corporate agenda behind his prognostications. The natural successor to the Disney machine, but more sophisticated.
Thank you for the documentary. Most Sinhalese who were educated in England divided people and Bandaranayake destroyed the nation.
I think the british policy of bringing significant Indians immigrants to every country in colonised did NOT backfired only in Singapore and lesser extent malaya...in singapore because the independence leaders with incredible foresight imposed English as an national language and well rouggshod a new identity concept called Singaporean. So well there is history... presidents chief judges lawyers army generals and poiticians in Singapore of Indians ethnicities which roughly made up only 10% of the country's popularion.
I thought that it was the British deliberately bringing in the 'harder' working Indians into Ceylon. Thereby creating a new class of residents in Ceylon. Distinguished ethnically and by language. And, also by commercial and educational success.
So, two separate groups of people squeezed into one country.
Am I correct in my thinking?
This prior information (if correct) wasn't mentioned in the clip.
Sri Lankans and Indians are not different.sinhalese are indo aryans like North Indians and tamils has been there for thousands of years.
Yes I may have inadvertently gave credance to right wing sinhalese view. While the british have brought in Indian Tamil and indentured labours and civil servants, Sri Lanka Tamils were in the island for thousand of years. British favouritism to Tamil in the civil service and as professional caused a great ofbthe backlash post independence
@@BrianPatrick-s6byour spot on
When discussing this topic, its important to acknowledge the "divide and rule" strategy used by the British. Bandaranayake is definitely responsible for what played out, however, the British needs to share equal blame. The British and other colonists had followed a similar playbook else where, like in India, Palestine/Israel, South Africa, Uganda etc. where conflict ensued soon after their exit resulting from the artificial balance of power created between the majorities and the minorities. All that said, I see an age of peace and prosperity for Sri Lanka!
Dear Mr. Sowell, still you are reading the old books of the issue. During the colonial time tamil community was given all benefits with all best schools in the country, in Northern region. All exams automatically first preference gone to them because of the rest of the country hadn't the opportunity to be educated and get good marks in exam. But this was changed by introducing the free education system. all talented young people got the opportunity to study and sit for the examinations. In 1975 it was found the all examinations papers written in Tamil had more marks un-lawfully, and government had stopped it. these issues limited the job opportunities for people in Jaffna. I am totally agreeing with you that "sinhala only" is a wrong policy and that was implemented by SWRD Bandaranaike to get the power.
Joe Biden?
😂Almost
Sleepy Joe, never had power. He was only a puppet for those that have an economic interest in selling fear. Fear of a virus, Fear of a war, Fear of fire, hurticaines, etc….
Only thing getting in his (their) way is the US Constitution.
Obama more like
@@nicbahtin4774yeah, blackish.
economic downturns and conflicts are common experiences for many countries throughout history. Sri Lanka’s challenges are not unique but rather part of the broader story of nation-building and recovery.
I love how you changed smaller bits to paint sinhalese as villains😂
British government used minority(tamils) to control majority(sinhalese). Also British government brought Indian (lower caste) tamils as slaves and they didn't had anything. Same time British government used Sri Lankan Tamils to control sinhalese and run the government. (Tamil people still have caste issues ) If sinhalese wanted any luxuries (smaller positions in government)or education they had to convert into Christianity. I can correct you all day but what's the point? You going to promote your agenda anyway 🤷🏼♂️ only thing I can say we were used as a slaves in our own country. (you guys calls it colonisation) and after British left Sri Lanka as a country we all had to face post colonisation issues.
And the war India thought we were supporting USA so they(India) weaponized tamil people . Because of that war we ended up here.
It's surprising to see how you guys treat black people and how you avoid accepting what British did here. Also in many other countries.
Well said
It's to bad Ceylon didn't have a Lee Kwan Yu at independence.
Yes! We could have been like Singapore. Lots of SL people went there including my relatives who own an actual house ( not apartment) there. Instead due to pride, nationalism and bad politicians we became the shame of Asia
No country is free from challenges, but history shows that perseverance, collaboration, and visionary leadership can transform even the direst circumstances into opportunities for growth and renewal. Sri Lanka, too, can emerge stronger by learning from its past and focusing on a united and prosperous future.
Administrative changes leads to eventual domestic terrorism and covil war? Wow
Neo colonialism.
SWRD's forefathers several generations ago were known as "Pandaram Nayakkars" ....popular name in South India....let that sink in
What Dr. Sowell doesnt understand is the fact that empowering the majority is more important than any economic benefit. It is better to live with one meal a day than being a slave enjoying three meals a day. The notion of prosperity through British economic mechanism would seem like a great success when looking from a global perspective. Yet, it has no substance to the ordinary people. Bandaranayake changed this way as he understood this very well due to his British education which got him to analyse the problem deeply. A shallow solution would be to continue the British-type reign yet, the socialist views enhanced the ordinary oppressed people. This is the most important outcome. So, Dr. Sowell, your views are just stereotypical views of the western society, they lack depth!
I'm Sri Lankan Singhalese and absolutely disagree with your ideology which is theoretical in sentiment but has no practical value. The evidence is Sri Lanka has never been run properly since independence and corruption has plagued every level of SriLankan society. Singapore has been the success of the 20th century and the locals there are not culturally devoid.
We could have still retained our culturally identity, spoke Singhalese and Tamil as well as English and not had a pointless civil war. Colonialism had many bad effects but overall it was much worse afterwards.
@@creativesource3514 I was a Singapore permanent resident for 4 years. Singapore success is based on slavery of many south Asians mainly Blangladeshis. Singapore succeeded as a gateway to East Asia when Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand was not very accessible to Western investments. Australia is full of corruption so is USA and even Europe. Bandaranayake initiated many movements and Sirimao carried the rest in 70's, you might not have the same worldwide understanding that I have.
@@creativesource3514 I lived in Singapore as a resident for 4 years and I know first hand their success is based on exploitation of many south Asians such as Bangladeshis. Singapore was the gateway to East Asia 3 decades ago when western investments could not reliably operate in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Today, Singapore does not have this advantage anymore. Bandaranayake did the most rightful thing by the people by nationalisation which is nothing more than US laws against monopolies even Microsoft was subjected to. Sirimao carried out the rest of the restorations in 70's which greatly benefitted the majority who were intentionally sidelined by British as their modus operandi. in colonial rule. I can tell so much regarding this but do not want to open old wounds. My understanding about this is profound with over 40 years of experience, you might not believe this!
Thanks for devoting time to tell the truth 🙏
But it isn't 💯 true.
Well his wife became first female primme minister in the world following his assassination . His daughter chandrika also became mighty president of sri lanka . The rajapaksas also followed similar sinhala favoratism politics. There is a strong backing for such politics from generation to generation leading to bankruptcy .
It's natural for people and communities to respond to oppression by seeking ways to protect their identity, culture, and autonomy. In the context of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala-Buddhist majority has historically taken steps to preserve its cultural and religious heritage, especially after centuries of colonial rule. However, these efforts can sometimes be perceived differently by others, depending on the context and the policies or actions taken.
Regarding the rejection of English, it's important to note that language often plays a complex role in post-colonial societies. While some may reject English as a symbol of colonial oppression, others might embrace it as a global lingua franca that opens doors to education, trade, and international relations. In Sri Lanka, English continues to be valued for its practical benefits while Sinhala and Tamil remain central to cultural identity.
It’s also true that every country has its issues, and Sri Lanka is no exception. Like many nations, it grapples with challenges related to governance, ethnic relations, and socio-economic disparities. Critiques or discussions about these challenges, including videos or other media, can be interpreted in various ways. Some might see them as attacks, while others might view them as opportunities for reflection and dialogue.
It’s crucial to approach such discussions with an open mind and sensitivity to context, ensuring that critiques are constructive and not divisive. Highlighting issues in a balanced manner can contribute to understanding and positive change rather than exacerbating tensions.
I understand that the home of Arthur C. Clark was a safe place, a sanctuary of sorts.
That's spelled "Clarke" with an 'E' on the end.
This is not the full truth, it gave some comfort to the underprivileged, the real destruction came in 1975 when Mr Felix extended the period of government till 1977. This changed the entire social system and brought war in Sri Lanka
Dr Sowell chose falsehood while describing India's Gujarath riots while being correct on overall picture. Not sure what to make out of this perspective on Srilanka.
He is completely incorrect and has no idea about Sri Lanka's history or conflict .
Unbiased neutral documentation of Srilanka.
Yet again wisdom and detailed analysis explaining a complicated history from Dr Sowell. Thank you Sir.
100% facts. I'm srilankan and this guy spitting facts.
Tamil or Sinhala?
@Sundar... Sinhala
While identifying societal issues is vital, attributing blame can fuel defensiveness and hinder progress. Instead, offering constructive criticism paired with actionable solutions can inspire change without creating animosity.
Promoting peace and unity requires sensitivity, open communication, and a commitment to understanding different perspectives. Your work has profoundly influenced countless individuals by challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging critical thought. While your analyses often highlight hard truths and stimulate important debates, I believe it is equally essential to explore ways to promote understanding and harmony through open communication, particularly in times of division.
In today’s polarized world and especially in Sri Lanka, effective communication requires not only presenting facts but also fostering an environment where differing perspectives can coexist. When discussions escalate into conflict, the opportunity for mutual understanding diminishes. Instead, we should aim for dialogue that enlightens rather than divides.
yep all true here. Great video well done and thank you
As a student of systems I have come to the conclusion that political systems and governance reflect tooling needed for modes of production. The next generation of technology will lead to a trans-human mode, making necessary a totalitarian operating system, (communism > trans-humanism), which is how digital systems execute defined functions, keep order and equilibrium.
It would seem that there are those, Klaus Schwab, Yuval Harari and perhaps Elon Musk, that feel inherently tribalistic and limited humans, and the scaled versions of tribes called sovereign nations, are not fit for the present or future and need technology to cure these limitations and "network of shared delusion" (Harari).
I would be keen to hear from Dr. Sowell his thoughts on this trajectory and the ability to keep the future human-centric with liberty, individual and national identity and sovereignty intact.
Very well made!
SWRDB ruined the country with the “ Sinhala Only “ policy entirely for selfish motives!
Result was, there was no communication within the different ethnic groups as we were NOT TAUGHT TAMIL IN OUR SCHOOLS!!
Thanks to our parents, we learnt English with the result that , we’ve genuine Tamil friends !!!
Not a majority was that fortunate 😒
😮 ❤️ From 🇱🇰
Point on.Thanks for the video